This three-storey fortification, built from evenly coursed slaty limestone, rises 40 feet into the sky with walls nearly 2 metres thick; a testament to the defensive priorities of its original builders. The castle’s construction features several practical medieval design elements, including a protective basal batter that extends 3 metres up the walls, long and short quoins at the corners for structural strength, and stepped gables that were both decorative and functional.

The interior of Glebe Castle is surprisingly compact, measuring just 6.4 metres by 4 metres, yet it contained four storeys without vaulted ceilings, making it somewhat unusual for structures of this type. The builders incorporated chimneys into the east and west walls for heating, whilst drainage chutes in the north and south walls dealt with the practicalities of castle life. These features, along with the building’s solid construction, meant it remained habitable well into the 19th century; records show it was still occupied in 1840.

Today, the castle sports a modern galvanised roof, a practical addition that has helped preserve this piece of Limerick’s architectural heritage. Located in Castlematrix, the tower house serves as a physical reminder of the network of fortified dwellings that once dotted the Irish landscape, when local lords and landowners needed both comfortable homes and defensible positions. Its survival in such good condition offers visitors a genuine glimpse into how these smaller defensive structures functioned as both family homes and military outposts during Ireland’s medieval period.